The following are highlights of the joint declaration announced Thursday by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung:1) Obuchi and Kim expressed their shared determination to build a new partnership toward the 21st century.2) Obuchi expressed keen remorse and apologized for the historical fact that Japan, through its past colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, imposed great damage and pain on the South Korean people. Appreciating the prime minister's apology, Kim stressed the importance of mutual efforts to build future-oriented relations by overcoming their unfortunate shared history.3) The two leaders agreed to further reinforce bilateral relations by holding bilateral summit meetings regularly and enhancing ministerial talks on foreign affairs and other fields.4) The two called for further strengthening the role of the United Nations in creating a safer and more peaceful world. Kim expressed expectations for a greater contribution by Japan to U.N. activities and other international efforts in this regard.5) The two leaders acknowledged the importance of promoting the construction of light-water reactors in North Korea under the auspices of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, which they regard as the most effective and realistic mechanism to prevent Pyongyang from proceeding in its nuclear development, which is suspected of having a military nature.6) The two leaders welcomed the recent basic agreement concerning a bilateral fisheries pact and called for the smooth development of bilateral relations in the field.7) The two agreed to make joint efforts toward the success of the World Cup soccer tournament in 2002.
